Dear Readers,

Well, it’s been a long 8 months since I sat down in front of the computer to write. Last Sept, I’d sworn that I was done, done, done with the up and down life of a writer. Well, of course, I had to learn the hard way that it’s something you don’t easily leave behind, especially if you feel that creating with the written word is your calling in life.

So, okay. I had to take a hard look and decide what I wanted to do. The conclusion was easy. I want to write. So here we go…

To kick things into gear, I’m pleased to announce that I have accepted a contract with Ruby Lioness Press (rubylionesspress.com) to write a contemporary story for their Clearwater multi-author series. And, yes, it will be steamy! It’s been a few years since I wrote in the erotica genre, but that’s where I initially made my name when I began publishing in New York with Kensington’s Aphrodisia imprint. Will I be writing more in future times? The short answer is of course!

I’ll also be looking into going ahead and continuing a couple of series that readers have been asking for a resolution to. This will include a third Kynn book, tentatively titled Sins of the Soul, and that pesky third Eternity book that’s been on my hard drive for more years than I care to count. Yes, I did write it. I never released it, though, and still can’t figure out why. I’ll also be exploring new full length novels, including some new paranormal series I’ve been letting simmer for awhile.

So that’s the latest. Meanwhile, here’s the synopsis for the new novella. Release date TBA:

Why Not Me?

Allison Rains is a vet tech at the Vet Clinic in Clearwater, WY. At 30 years of age, she’s settled into the community where she grew up. Independent with a bit of a prickly streak, Allison is currently single. At 17, she married her high school sweetheart, Lucian Donner, but the marriage was a complete failure. While Allison wanted to remain in Clearwater, Lucien had dreams of a bigger world with brighter horizons. An artist and dreamer, her young husband wanted to see the world. Settling down in a small town to raise a family definitely wasn’t anything he had on his mind. The marriage ended after six miserable months. Love, or rather lust, wasn’t enough to keep them together. Although the two adored each other, they were just too damn young to make things work. He was the dreamer intent on skipping college, and she was always the practical one. And the last thing Allison wanted to do was live the life of a struggling artist.

Since that time, Allison has dated but she just hasn’t found the man she considers to be “the one”. Part of the problem may be that her heart still belongs to the man she loved, but lost. A piece of her soul feels like it’s missing, never to be filled again. To compensate, Allison has thrown herself into her work with neglected and abandoned animals. Her life is comfortable and a small circle of friends and family keeps her busy. Her younger sister, Colleen is about to deliver her first child. While she’s thrilled to be an aunt, Allison won’t admit to her family that her heart still aches for the man that walked away.

Returning to Clearwater isn’t something Lucien Donner wants to do. However since his father has passed away unexpectedly, he’s got the job of coming home to help his mother sort through his dad’s estate. The house he grew up in will need to be sold, and his ageing mother relocated to an apartment she can manage. From Lucien’s point of view, Clearwater was always a nice place to be from, but he definitely didn’t want to spend his entire life in such a small community. The bright lights of the big cities beckoned, and Lucien was eager to prove himself. Unfortunately, the uncertainties of pursuing an artistic career has left him struggling to find his way. Nobody wants to roll back into their hometown as a failure, but that is exactly what Lucien’s doing. He’s broke and out of work, and coming home is the only way he can salvage the tattered remnants of his pride. Once his mother is resettled, he plans to take his portion of his inheritance and start over somewhere far away.

A monkey wrench is throw into Lucien’s plans when he accidentally strikes a stray dog with his vehicle. Unable to leave the wounded animal to die, Lucien bundles the dog into his car and rushes to the local vet. As far as he knows old Doc Gleason is still running the place. Rushing the animal inside, he’s surprised to see Allison Rains working there. Since their divorce 13 years ago, he’s fallen out of touch with his ex-wife. Seeing her after so much time has passed is a shock. The pretty teenager he married on a youthful whim is now a beautiful –and mature— woman. It takes only seconds for his feelings for Allison to return, full force. Thought he knows he’ll be playing with fire, he asks Allison out, presumably to catch up on old times. Although he doesn’t plan to stay in town for more than a few weeks, he can’t help wondering if the heat they’d once generated can be rekindled…

Allison, however, isn’t in any mood for games. Although Lucien’s little boy smile and talented hands still turn her on in all the right ways, she isn’t up for a brief affair. If Lucien plans to slide between her sheets, he’d better plan on staying awhile. She wants more from her ex. Maybe more than he’s willing to give. But the old saying of nothing ventured, nothing gained is so very true. All Allison needs to do is convince the reluctant Lucien that this time around she’s got all the right moves to keep him where he belongs: at home, in Clearwater. With her.

Some naughty lingerie and a pair of handcuffs might be helpful…

Be sure and check out Ruby Lioness Press for more details on the Clearwater series.

Warmest regards,

Devyn

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