Second Chance for a Family

First book in Sugar Springs, Tennessee series.

Since the day her sister died in her arms, Lee Ann London has been raising her twin nieces without letting the dishonesty of their conception get in the way. Her older, beautiful sister had seduced Lee Ann’s high school boyfriend, turning her world upside down in more ways than one. But now, with the girls on the verge of turning thirteen and everything in Lee Ann’s life running perfectly, the ex arrives back in town.

Cody Dalton has lived with the shame all these years of what he did to Lee Ann. When the professional opportunity arises to temporarily move back to Sugar Springs, the only place he’d ever felt like he might belong, he accepts with the hope of seeing Lee Ann and finally giving her the apology she deserved. What he doesn’t expect to find is that he had fathered twins before disappearing. He can’t just walk away, but knows he’s not made to stick in any one place too long. Staying may hurt the girls more than help.

Cody and Lee Ann devise a plan to introduce him into the girls’ lives, knowing when he leaves he’ll see them on weekends only. But when their past feelings quickly bubble to the surface, they discover something neither expected. Life has offered them both a second chance. Do either have the guts to accept?

Contest finals:

• Winner, 2009 Golden Heart®, Contemporary Series Romance category
• Finalist – 2009 Golden Heart, Contemporary Series Romance category
• 1st place, 2008 Golden Pen (Golden Network)
• 1st place, 2008 Finally a Bride (Oklahoma RWA)
• Finalist, 2008 The Wallflower (From the Heart Romance Writers)
• Finalist, 2008 Fire & Ice (Chicago-North RWA)

Unconditional Family

Second book in Sugar Springs, Tennessee series.

No matter how little love Joanie Bigbee received throughout her life, losing her last family member sends her impulsiveness into overdrive. Luckily, her one night attempt to secretly impregnate herself failed, but now the object of her affections, Nick Dalton, is back in town and not hiding the fact he’s after her. But she doesn’t need him. All she needs is a baby to make her life complete. A sperm bank will do just fine.

Nick’s one night with Joanie left him reeling. Although she painted herself as a lifelong single, he easily read her desire for more as she clung to him in the dark. He wants more too, and is certain Joanie is the one to make his family complete. Bonding with his newly discovered brother is only one reason to move to Sugar Springs, Tennessee. Joanie is the other.

But is his need to take care of a family more than she will ever let into her life? After all, it took years to erect the walls around her heart. Is he man enough to scale them?

Contest finals:

Finalist, 2009 Fire & Ice (Chicago-North RWA)

Rebuilding her Past

First book in Georgia’s Jewels series

On the idyllic barrier island of Jekyll Island, Georgia, event planner Abby Duncan faces the toughest challenge in her life. One misstep with the fund-raiser at her aunt’s recently restored house and Abby’s company will not only go under, but the bank will foreclose on her aunt’s home. Unwilling to conceive of the possibility, Abby meticulously oversees every detail herself. What she doesn’t foresee is the vandalism that occurs only two weeks before the big event.

She seeks out the restoration expert, prepared to beg, grovel, even manipulate if it comes to that. What she finds, however, tilts her world back a decade, to pain, desertion and guilt. The owner is none other than the boy – now a man – who got her pregnant and then deserted her. Having no resources of her own at the time, Abby found the best family she could for her daughter and said her goodbyes. Can she now handle reliving not only Kyle’s desertion, but her own of her child? And what about the unresolved feelings she and Kyle still seem to have?

Contest finals:

1st place, 2007 Cleveland Rocks Romance (Northeast Ohio RWA) – previously titled
Controlling the Contractor

Gambling on Forever

Second book in Georgia’s Jewels series

Savannah’s resident good-girl, Sarah Ashton, is supposed to be using her friend’s Vegas wedding as a get-to-know-you-better trip with the man her step-mother is pushing her to get serious about, hopefully marry. And although he’s nice enough, good looking enough – for a lawyer – he just doesn’t quite ‘do’ it for her. When he heads home early for a client emergency, Sarah feels ignored, but suddenly free. Without her step-mother or ‘appropriate boyfriend’ watching for once, Sarah takes the opportunity to let out the rebel that’s always lurked inside. After all, what happens in Vegas…

Chase Montgomery, best man and notorious Savannah bad-boy, is more than intrigued when straight-laced Sarah approaches him for his participation in her wild Vegas night. How he manages to wake up married to her the next morning, he’s still unsure. A quickie divorce before heading home is the logical choice, but he can’t help wanting to push her buttons. She’s so much more fun that way. Plus, a short-term marriage might benefit him as well.

As Sarah works on a divorce without exposing her marriage, she discovers more than attraction for Chase. He’s a good guy. She also likes the woman she is around him. But will she give up her secure future and her family’s approval when all she might ever have with Chase is temporary?