Love is an art form, and those in love are the brush strokes on the canvas that bring emotions to life. As it is in real life, so it goes in romance novels. The characters who live in Buck Hole Hollow work, play and love, just like real people. However, where real people may not talk about certain feelings, these characters tell you all about them. They weave a tale of many emotions, including love, hate, rebellion and even jealousy. They fight with their subconscious about feeling the love and needing to be with another person. From the independent Adley to the semi-dependent Sarah and their loves, you can lose yourself in the trials and tribulations of the women of Buck Hole Hollow.
The Inspiration Behind the Books
Rhea has always wanted to write a book. However, her day job requires succinct writing with no fluff. Boring. She finally bit the bullet and started a series. Just jump right in with both feet… why not?
Rhea lives on the Cumberland Plateau in the eastern part of Middle Tennessee. It stands to reason that her books would take place somewhere in Tennessee – preferably in the mountains. There are many hollows on the Plateau and in the mountains in the eastern part of the state. Rhea wanted a setting with a unique name. She scoured a map, looking for just the right place. While Buck Hole Hollow is a real place, the characters, buildings, stores and everything around the area are all fiction. Buck Hole Hollow is similar to Norrod Hollow and many of the other hollows you can find in Overton County.
The Inspiration Behind the Characters
There's always some type of inspiration behind the characters in a book; otherwise, they wouldn't have much of a personality. There's a little bit of Rhea in most of the characters, especially her attitude. There's a little bit of people that she knows, and there's a little bit of other author's characters.
Adley Joslyn Greer
Rhea was looking for a unique name for a unique character when she chose 'Adley.' The name is British in origin and means heather fields. Perfect for a woman who loves nature. Adley's middle name, 'Joslyn,' is actually the last name of a high school friend's daughters. Rhea loved the name when she saw it and thought it would make a perfect middle name. 'Greer' is Scottish in origin and means alert and watchful.
Adley's character is adventurous, and she's pretty laid back until someone pisses her off. But it takes a lot to get her there. She's most often found in shorts or jeans. She's not much for dressing up since she'd rather be in the woods.
Adley is also an excellent cook, just like her creator. She only drinks raspberry iced tea since she hates coffee – also like her creator. She wears her hair in a ponytail most of the time, especially if she's out in the woods working. And she always carries a .45 and a machete. She does leave the machete at home when she goes to the store – not the .45, though!
Adley works from home as a copywriter, so she can make her own schedule and work where she wants. While starting to clear the boundaries on the thousands of acres she just bought, she meets Davis.
But there's a big problem there. Davis is jilted, thanks to a bitch of an ex-wife, and Adley is too independent to want a man around all the time.
Charles Davis Bailey
Davis started to be 'David,' after Rhea's bother, but the name just didn't seem to work. And, as with many of her southern friends who go by their middle names, it just seemed the thing to do. Charles is Rhea's favorite uncle's first name. Though he was a New Englander, he also went by his middle name, Walt. 'Bailey' is Old English and stands for strength. Just what it would take to get Adley in his clutches – a man who was stronger than she and someone who could keep up with her.
Of course, Davis needed all the help in the emotional strength area he could get. Between his firm mindset that he didn't need a woman and Adley's independence, he needed a strong mind to overcome those two things. The great sex didn't hurt, either! Oh, yeah, this series is a #sexyromance series, so…
Marley Harrison
Rhea needed another strong-minded character for the main character in the second book of the series. What better name than "Marley," which has British roots and means someone who lives next to a clearing? Marley also means a person with a strong sense of self and an independent person. A perfect, unique name for someone who drives a skidder in the rough and tumble world of logging and forestry.
Marley met Michael, Davis's brother, while Davis and Adley were out dancing in their favorite bar. They never knew what she did for a living until Michael got to know her better, though he was smitten with her right from the start.
Marley is definitely her own woman, though not as strong-minded as Adley. However, like Adley, she doesn't shy away from hard work and enjoys being out in the woods. When Adley finds out Marley drives a skidder, she tries to talk Michael into hiring her for their crews.
But when Marley comes to Buck Hole Hollow, she brings some baggage with her, and it doesn't bode well for Michael.
Branden Michael Bailey
'Branden' is a form of 'Brandon,' a common name for boys. It's also a form of one of the towns near the town Rhea lived in for a good part of her life. Michael is an uncle who likes working with his hands and is probably the most laid-back of all of Rhea's blood-related aunts and uncles.
Davis talked Michael into moving his logging operation back to Tennessee when the industry out west took a hit. Davis tried for a couple of years to get Michael to move back, but at first, logging was great where Michael was. It wasn't until it slowed down that he seriously considered moving back.
When he came to visit, Davis showed him Adley's place and the place next door where they were logging. Michael fell in love with the area and talked the owner of the acreage Davis was logging to sell.
They combined their operations and made it even larger by adding a mill. And it was right next to Adley's place.
Sarah Burlington
Sarah is a name Rhea picked out of thin air, as is Burlington. She loves coffee and loves working with wood. Though her talents lie in pyrography instead of working out in the woods. Aiden, Michael, Davis and Adley kept running into her when they went out to eat and to their favorite bar.
When Aiden saw her for the first time, she was with her sister, Jade, and he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Though he asked her to dance that first day, it still took them a bit to get together. Aiden was too busy, and Sarah was gun-shy because of her ex.
James Aiden Jackson
Aiden. His first name is courtesy of a logger friend of Rhea's. Aiden is Gaelic for "little fire," except Aiden is more like a big fire with a big personality. He's more outgoing than Davis and Michael, especially when he decides he likes you.
Though always polite, Aiden is wilder than Davis and Michael, especially behind closed doors. Though he is a friend of Davis and Michael, they all know each other so well that they consider themselves brothers – and they act like brothers. Since Aiden's family was into logging, they knew each other since they were kids.
And when Sarah's possessive ex Julian unexpectedly shows up, you guessed it: Trouble in Buck Hole Hollow for Sarah and Aiden.
Colin Quinn
Colin is a good friend of Davis, Michael and Aiden and worked for Davis from the beginning. He loves black coffee and always has a five o'clock shadow that gives him a sexy look. He likes to barrel race but doesn't get to do it often because of work.
He was the first choice to move into a supervisory position when the company grew, especially since he rarely gets mad or shows his temper. As with Aiden, he is also like a brother to Davis and Michael.
James Hank Garrett
Hank can pick a tune on a guitar and will bring it out every once in a while. His mother owns a market in Eagan. He was married but divorced. In another life, he was Davis' ranch foreman until Davis sold the ranch and went into logging. When that happened, he went to work for the sheriff's office and loved it but missed ranch work.
When Adley finished building her cattle ranch, she was looking for a good foreman. Davis suggested they try to get Hank.
Alex Collins (Shorty)
Shorty is a supervisor on one of the crews. He doesn't play a large role in any of the books – yet. Everyone calls him 'Shorty' because he isn't short. He also grew up in a logging family, so he had known Davis and Michael since they were younger.
Leon Griffin (Griff)
With all the equipment they have between Davis and Michael, they need a mechanic. Leon Griffin, Griff for short, is the main tech and shop manager. He doesn't play a large part in the first three books in the series, but he is visible!
Shannon Conway
When the brothers combined their companies, they were fine with just one mechanic. However, once word got out that they did great work, they needed to create another logging crew, which meant more equipment and too much for Griff. They decided to hire Shannon, someone Davis and Michael knew from when they were kids since her father was also a logger. The guys all find out rather quickly that Shannon is much stronger than her trim frame makes her look and is one not to be trifled with. The first time she threw one of the guys over her shoulder, she caught Hank's attention.
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