Carmen and Alex Series by Linda Louise Rigsbee

The arrival of spring kids gave hope of finally putting the goat dairy business in the black, but finance didn't make the top of Carmen's list of woes. Josh was ready to get married and so was she, but maybe not to him. They had been childhood playmates and everyone assumed they would soon be husband and wife. That was when her roommate's brother arrived for a visit. From the beginning sparks flew between them - the kind of sparks she had begun to think only existed in fairy tales... moreThe arrival of spring kids gave hope of finally putting the goat dairy business in the black, but finance didn't make the top of Carmen's list of woes. Josh was ready to get married and so was she, but maybe not to him. They had been childhood playmates and everyone assumed they would soon be husband and wife. That was when her roommate's brother arrived for a visit. From the beginning sparks flew between them - the kind of sparks she had begun to think only existed in fairy tales. But Alex had once been bitten by the love bug and wasn't ready to go through that hurt again. He wanted the relationship without the commitment. Carmen was conservative enough to believe the relationship should come after the commitment - even when you're 25. less

The last two weeks before their wedding, Carmen and Alex are challenged with the responsibility of remaining chaste. Together, they face that and other normal challenges of adjusting to marriage - except the ones Carmen keeps secret. As Alex discovers each of her secrets, he is more concerned with her reason for hiding things from him. He is shamed by the idea that she is afraid of him... moreThe last two weeks before their wedding, Carmen and Alex are challenged with the responsibility of remaining chaste. Together, they face that and other normal challenges of adjusting to marriage - except the ones Carmen keeps secret. As Alex discovers each of her secrets, he is more concerned with her reason for hiding things from him. He is shamed by the idea that she is afraid of him. Carmen is so distracted by her ventures that she fails to see the warning signs until Alex finally loses patience and blows up at her. Their first real fight could be their last if she doesn't get her priorities in order. less

The mind can endure a limited amount of pain before it begins to shut things out. For Carmen, her darkest hour is the loss of the baby she always wanted, but that is only part of her ordeal. Carmen and Alex both want a baby, but the doctors say Alex is sterile. He wants to adopt a baby but Carmen isn't convinced the doctor is right. She has seen the down side of adoption and she is hoping for a different solution to the prospect of children... moreThe mind can endure a limited amount of pain before it begins to shut things out. For Carmen, her darkest hour is the loss of the baby she always wanted, but that is only part of her ordeal. Carmen and Alex both want a baby, but the doctors say Alex is sterile. He wants to adopt a baby but Carmen isn't convinced the doctor is right. She has seen the down side of adoption and she is hoping for a different solution to the prospect of children. Alex is patient with Carmen until she conceives shortly after his two week business trip to South America. At that point he is certain that the baby isn't his. To his way of thinking, the one person he thought he could trust has betrayed him. Carmen is shocked that Alex thinks she could be unfaithful. She is trying to understand his point of view, but he is making her life miserable. Trust and respect are no longer a part of their marriage. When Carmen loses the baby, she blames Alex and unconsciously pushes the entire experience from her mind. They are no longer a couple, but entities instead. They must find their way back to sharing, but that means Carmen must face the painful truth. "The Darkest Hour" is the third in the popular Carmen and Alex Series of clean romance novels. It is emotion-packed and dark at times, but it points a path toward rebuilding a marriage after a disaster. less

The vow "for better or worse" sounds romantic until "worse" becomes an indefinite coma. Carmen begins to realize that there are worse things than death. When Lori returns to reclaim two-year-old Destiny, Carmen and Alex consult a lawyer. The six month waiting time has passed, but Lori insists Carmen had promised that she could come back and get her later. But Alex didn't agree and it was a legal adoption. Lori is determined and even a restraining order doesn't stop her... moreThe vow "for better or worse" sounds romantic until "worse" becomes an indefinite coma. Carmen begins to realize that there are worse things than death. When Lori returns to reclaim two-year-old Destiny, Carmen and Alex consult a lawyer. The six month waiting time has passed, but Lori insists Carmen had promised that she could come back and get her later. But Alex didn't agree and it was a legal adoption. Lori is determined and even a restraining order doesn't stop her. When she resorts to unorthodox methods, it results in Carmen being attacked and Alex being stabbed while trying to rescue her. Alex lives, but he remains in a coma after the stabbing. Carmen isn't accustomed to making all the decisions. Alex has been the one they all turned to for final decisions. Now she must be both mother and father. As if all this isn't enough, Carmen discovers Alex has kept a secret from her since the beginning of their relationship. She doesn't know why and Alex can't explain. Things look pretty bleak, but to Carmen's way of thinking, as long as you don't give up, you haven't failed. less

Carmen has finally agreed to a baby through a surrogate mother. Alex has agreed to a Christmas vacation at his biological father’s home. It is a huge step for each of them and emotions are running high. Not nearly as high as they get when they reach Texas.Alex doesn’t want to go to Texas and his actions speak as loudly as his words. Carmen is shocked to discover the extent of his secrecy. Alex has hidden far more than a father. He has hidden a family and a lifestyle... moreCarmen has finally agreed to a baby through a surrogate mother. Alex has agreed to a Christmas vacation at his biological father’s home. It is a huge step for each of them and emotions are running high. Not nearly as high as they get when they reach Texas.Alex doesn’t want to go to Texas and his actions speak as loudly as his words. Carmen is shocked to discover the extent of his secrecy. Alex has hidden far more than a father. He has hidden a family and a lifestyle. Carmen wants to know why, but Alex doesn’t want to discuss it. He claims she is better off not knowing.Carmen loves Alex, in spite of the way he is acting. She realizes that they must make some critical changes in their relationship, but she knows that her response may affect the rest of their marriage. People either grow together in times like these or they drift apart. She carefully measures each response. It isn’t about winning an argument. It’s about making their marriage stronger. It is no longer about Carmen and Alex, but their children as well.Carmen and Alex are each having a change of heart. Will they be able to make their relationship better or will they build walls between them? less

Carmen knows she can't please everyone, but she is trying to be the best mother, wife and manager she is capable of being. In the process, she's willing to change the way she dresses and acts. Alex is confused and alarmed by the change. He likes his responsibilities exactly where he expects them to be. He has another problem and he doesn't want the distraction of changes... moreCarmen knows she can't please everyone, but she is trying to be the best mother, wife and manager she is capable of being. In the process, she's willing to change the way she dresses and acts. Alex is confused and alarmed by the change. He likes his responsibilities exactly where he expects them to be. He has another problem and he doesn't want the distraction of changes. Carmen knows she already has her hands full with the children, school and the animals, but when Alex makes arrangements for tourists on their American Wildlife Safari, she accepts his claim that she can make time. Meanwhile, Katie is trying to make a fashionable independent woman out of her. Carmen doesn't care about fashion, but thinks it will please Alex. The only person Carmen isn't trying to please is Jonathan, who has reached puberty and rebellion simultaneously. In the process of doing something Alex has strictly forbidden, Carmen has a tragic accident and is injured when she falls down a bluff. She bears Alex's stoic rebuke in silence, knowing she brought it on herself. Jonathan is ultimately the one who brings it to her attention that she is letting others run her life, not being independent. Her marriage is falling apart and Alex has gone to Texas, leaving her to manage everything in his absence. Carmen must forget about what everyone wants her to be and become what she thinks she should be. Hopefully it isn't too late to save her marriage. less

After nine years of marriage and four children, Carmen and Alex are beginning to take each other for granted. Worse, the enthusiasm they have for their jobs may result in less attention for their children. Carmen decides that a vacation will break them both free of their routines and provide quality time with their children. Alex is nearing his 40th birthday and feeling inadequate. Clients at his veterinary clinic are increasing in number and they are already short-handed... moreAfter nine years of marriage and four children, Carmen and Alex are beginning to take each other for granted. Worse, the enthusiasm they have for their jobs may result in less attention for their children. Carmen decides that a vacation will break them both free of their routines and provide quality time with their children. Alex is nearing his 40th birthday and feeling inadequate. Clients at his veterinary clinic are increasing in number and they are already short-handed. It isn't a good time to take a vacation, but Carmen is right. Time will not materialize on its own. They must make the time. Carmen has never planned a vacation before. In fact, she's never been out of Arkansas except to visit relatives in Texas. Alex doesn't want to go and the children want to hurry up and get there. The hotels and the routes aren't what she expects them to be. Romance is impossible and the trip takes longer than she anticipated. The only thing that has gone as planned is that their routine has been broken. When they finally reach their destination and begin to enjoy themselves, Carmen and Alex accidentally observe a drug deal and wind up being captured. It's a good thing they have had nine years of learning to work together, because working together is their only chance to escape and reunite with their children. less