Romance Writers Weekly ~ Unpredictable Plots ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "How do you surprise readers with unique and unpredictable plots?"

Well, that's an interesting question. Because it seems to me that one of the thing readers (including me) like best about romance novels is the lack of unpredictability. 

I guess the answer is that I surprise myself first. I never know where my next bit of inspiration is going to come from. For this month's release (Fall For You) I was struggling with the story--a second chance romance tale where the woman is the one who leaves town, hoping to make it in the big city and the man is the one who stays home and cares for his/their extended family. 

BUT THEN...I was enjoying an afternoon out with parents from my grandson's school when a delicious little plot twist was dropped into my lap. And no, I'm not going to tell you what it was--because it's a surprise!

Now, hop on over to Jill Haymaker's page to see what she has to say! And don't forget to check out her book, RISE UP TO LOVE.

RISE UP TO LOVE: 

a story of love and redemption

What happens when just as your life is coming together, the old life you left behind forever catches up with you? Can Lori find a way to make up for her past mistakes and move forward? Sometimes the person who is hardest to forgive is yourself.

https://books2read.com/AfterWords

Fall For You: Texas Heat

A Heartwood, TX Story

Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even though it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.

 

 Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.​

https://books2read.com/FallForYou

Musical Monday: Don't Call Me (Chris Young)

This song is so perfect for the story I'm currently working on. Poor Carter was dealing with the love of his life having left him. But now she's back wanting to pick up where they left off. 

Of course it's not as simple as that. Where would the fun be if it were all black and white? Eventually they'll find a happy ending, but in the meantime, they're gonna drive each other crazy. 

Fall For You: Texas Heat

Heartwood, Texas: Book One

Available for pre-order now: FallForYou

​

Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even if it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.

 

 Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.

​

Releasing January 30, 2025

Romance Writers Weekly ~ 2025! ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "What are you looking forward to most in 2025?"

Hmm. Good question. I have a possible trip back to Costa Rica coming up, and I'm definitely looking forward to that! And I found the perfect yoga studio, so I'm also looking forward to getting back into shape. I felt my absolute best when I was doing yoga regularly, so that's definitely a goal. 

But I guess, really, the thing I'm most looking forward to this year is the books I'm going to be releasing. I have two new series coming up and I couldn't be more excited about them!

Now, hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page to find out what she's looking forward to! 

Winter World of Love

A Winter Hearts Steampunk Novella

​

December 24, 1871

Republic of New Texacali

Just one short year ago, Ophelia Leonides returned to New Texacali hoping to reconcile with her husband. And, for a while, it seemed that most, if not all, her dreams were coming true. But as the holiday season approaches, Ophelia can’t help but notice that Dario has begun to brood. He says it has nothing to do with her, but trust, once lost, is hard to regain.
 
Dario is frustrated by his inability to give Ophelia the life he knows she deserves. Now, as old ghosts from his past draw close, and the bright future he’s promised his wife grows increasingly dim, he’s on the brink of making a last, desperate gamble--one that might destroy everything they've been hoping to achieve.​

https://books2read.com/Winter-World-of-Love

Musical Monday: Bad Decisions (Dylan Schneider)

So the book I'm working on currently (Fall For You) has two main characters with a history of bad decisions. And I am enjoying them so much! The book is set in Texas (as are two more books releasing this year) so you can expect a lot of country music coming up for 2025. 

Fall For You: Texas Heat

Heartwood, Texas: Book One

https://books2read.com/FallForYou

​

Jocelyn Barnes couldn’t wait to leave Heartwood in her rearview mirror—even if it meant breaking two hearts in the process. Now, with her career on hiatus and her great-aunt in need of help as she recovers from concussion, Jo finds herself right back where she started, older but not much wiser, and about to make all the same mistakes all over again.

 

 Carter Donahue doesn’t believe in looking back. As the chef/manager of his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant, he’s got his hands full. With a goal of turning his legacy into a must-see, Hill Country destination, his focus is on the future. The past? He’d rather that stayed buried. The last thing he needs (or wants) is to dig up those old feelings or fall back in love with his ex—especially when she’s already got one foot out the door. Again.

Available for pre-order now!

Musical Monday: Where Are You Christmas? (Faith Hill)

 It's a little late, being after Christmas, but then again, I missed the boat a little by releasing Winter World of Love (which mostly takes place on Christmas Eve) after Christmas and releasing Sea Change (which is set on the days leading up to New Year's eve) which released last week. But, c'est la vie. 

Two New Releases!

Winter World of Love

A Winter Hearts Steampunk Novella

 

https://books2read.com/Winter-World-of-Love

 

December 24, 1871

Republic of New Texacali

 

Just one short year ago, Ophelia Leonides returned to New Texacali hoping to reconcile with her husband. And, for a while, it seemed that most, if not all, her dreams were coming true. But as the holiday season approaches, Ophelia can’t help but notice that Dario has begun to brood. He says it has nothing to do with her, but trust, once lost, is hard to regain.

 

Dario is frustrated by his inability to give Ophelia the life he knows she deserves. Now, as old ghosts from his past draw close, and the bright future he’s promised his wife grows increasingly dim, he’s on the brink of making a last, desperate gamble--one that might destroy everything they've been hoping to achieve.

​

 

Happily Ever After in Oberon

Omnibus Three: Books 7 - 9

 

 https://books2read.com/Happily-Ever-After-in-Oberon

 

Visions Before Midnight

Dream Under the Hill

And Shadows Have Their Ending

 

Second Chances, Enemies to Lovers, Hurt-Comfort, Holiday Romance, Suspense.

​

Trigger Warning: These books are somewhat darker than the first six, with teens in peril.

Wine Wednesday: Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2022

 

Pale gold color. Nose--key lime and apricot, with hints of guava and pineapple. Very fruit forward--all the same flavors. Medium bodied, slightly sweeter than I expected from a Sauvi-B. It's enjoyable, but not at all what I was expecting. This wine feels very summery. Which fits with this week's re-release of And Shadows Have Their Ending, but is entirely wrong for Christmas week. 

I think I was swayed by the name. Gott's Roadside is an institution in Napa--a classic burger joint right on the side of HWY 29. I think I was expecting a drier wine, one that could stand up to burgers and BBQ. This ain't it. 

I think, if I were having a salad--mixed spring greens with Chèvre and dried cranberries; or maybe a Cajun fried chicken salad with buttermilk dressing and peppered pecans (I'm looking at you, Gumbo Pot) this would be a good choice. Other than that, I'm drawing a blank. It's nice on its own, however, so maybe that's all I need? Although, now that I'm thinking of it, I could really go for a salad. 

Here's an excerpt from And Shadows Have Their Ending. Seth is having a similar problem...well, sort of. 

The girls were giggling together like old friends when Seth arrived back at the inn that evening.  Surprised and relieved, he followed the sound of their laughter to the lounge and abruptly lost his temper.  “Jesus.  Cara–  Crap.  What the fuck are you doing?” he demanded.  

There was an open bottle of wine on the coffee table, once again, and each of the girls held a full glass in her hand.  “I thought we talked about this last night?  I thought you weren’t gonna do this anymore?”

“Oh, just chill!”  Cara waved a hand at him dismissively.  “What’s one bottle more gonna hurt?  Anyway—check it—I figured out what we can do.  I’m gonna tell Sinead that I took all the wine out of the cooler in the kitchen ‘cause I wanted to sort it.  From light to dark—you know, like they do at the tastings?  I’ll tell her I had all the bottles lined up on the floor when you came in with the dogs and startled me.  I got up too quick and tripped, ’cause of my bad leg, and four of the bottles got broken.”

“Four?”  There’d been two bottles last night, one now...what was he missing?  His math skills weren’t that bad. And neither were hers.

“Or, however many,” Cara said with another negligent wave.  “I’ll tell her she can take the cost of the wine out of my pay, she’ll probably say no, and that will be that.  And, don’t worry, I’ll make sure she knows you didn’t drink any of them.  You just have to back me up about the dogs, ’kay?”

“You mean you want me to lie to her?” he demanded, growing angrier by the second.

“Oh, like you weren’t gonna do that already?” Cara was quick to point out. “You were gonna let her think you drank them just to keep me from getting fired.  How’s this any different, other than it’s a much better story and no one gets in any trouble?”

“I guess,” he muttered, annoyed with how relieved he felt. It was a better story and he didn’t want to get kicked out so soon.  Still, this was an actual lie. It wasn’t just fudging the truth to protect a friend. And it laid the fault on his dogs—who already had enough shit talked about them!

“Do you need help with the cooking?” Deirdre asked, smiling sweetly.

Seth scowled.  “No.  Why don’t you two just…just set the table or something?”  

He’d known too many girls who got turned on and horny after a couple of drinks.  If Deirdre turned out to be one of those, he’d lose his mind for sure.

He went back to the kitchen and got rice started in the rice cooker.  Then he went out to the terrace to fire up the grill.  He’d bought strip steak and chicken tenderloins to go with the vegetables his uncle had given him: Japanese eggplants, zucchini, Portobello mushrooms, Visalia onions, teardrop tomatoes, along with four kinds of pepper and two types of Summer squash.  Served with the rice and a Thai peanut dipping sauce that was just spicy enough to be interesting, he figured it would make a simple, festive meal.  

When he went back to the kitchen to mix up the sauce he could hear the girls murmuring together in the dining room.  He supposed he should be happy that they were getting along so well, but it was hard when he had the nasty suspicion that he was the topic of much of their whispered conversation.

And Shadows Have Their Ending

Oberon Book 9.0

https://books2read.com/ShadowsEnding​

The last two years have not been kind to Seth Cavanaugh.  But, he's suffered and grown and he finally feels ready to put his troubled past behind him.  So, doesn't it just figure that the girl who caused all the trouble in the first place should pick now to return and cause him even more torment?

​

 Deirdre Delaney Shelton-Cooper has spent the past two years trying to forget the events that marked her first visit to Oberon, but can you ever really forget the memory of your first love, no matter how painful those memories are?  It's just her luck the boy she put herself through hell for has turned out to be such a loser.

 

 After a disastrous reunion, they'd both be content to have nothing more to do with each other, if only fate--and one very determined angel--were not conspiring against them.

 

 There are some wounds that time can't heal.  There are some dreams that won't come true.  But, sometimes, if you're lucky, shadows have their ending.  And the love you'd just about given up on returns.