Well, I think we've established that I'm weird about book covers. You're probably thinking, wasn't this titled something else?

Yes, yes it was.

I wasn't happy with the title or the cover so I scrapped the whole thing and started from scratch. I'm finally happy with what I put together.

This will be my first YA. (Well, YA romance focused novel. I do have one that is a Christian Urban Fantasy, but it hasn't been edited.)

I have a sixteen (almost seventeen year old), and I tried hard to think about how I'd feel if she was reading this book geared to her age. I try to make all my books something I don't have to hide from her, but this one especially.

I care about your children too. I don't like the idea of teenagers put in situations they aren't...mentally ready for. Just because teenagers have hormones, doesn't mean they have to act on them. I'm a firm believer in letting children be children.

Which brings me back to this YA. Not saying you shouldn't read it. I'm also a firm believer that we all have our comfort zones when it comes to our kids. We have to do what we think is best. Just know, that I did try to balance reality while also honoring the trust I've been given.

I do hope you'll love it. I sure tried hard to make it awesome.

Okay, that's it for me. It's been a while since I've published a new book, and I'm still just as nervous as I was the first time I hit publish back in March of 2018. I'm not sure that'll ever stop.

Whew. Who knew nine days could fly that fast?

We left on September 5th and got back around ten this past Monday night. It was one humdinger of a trip too. Honestly, I could have stayed longer. It was so nice to get away.

The route we took basically had us going in a U-shape. Our first stop was Mount Rushmore, the Custer Battlefield was next, and we did a detour to Devil's Tower before reaching Yellowstone National Park.

On the way to Yellowstone, we were told about a little road called Beartooth Pass. Oh. My. Word.

That road.

A madman must have designed that thing. We were going around curves that were more close to u-turns than actual curves. And the things we had to look out for?

Rocks on road, falling rocks, rock slides, avalanches, bears, deers, cows, pedestrians, horses, 11% grades, and a host of other things. Good grief. And if you did happen to stray off the road, there was not a thing to stop you. You were Thelma and Louise-style-going out with a bang. It was the squiggliest road ever.

Yellowstone was beautiful though. Minus the sulfur stuff. Wow, did that stuff stink! We were at the Dragon's Mouth (I think that's what it's called.) and the wind shifted directions. That stuff was in my mouth, up my nose, and gagging me. It was then I realized that whoever came up with the bog of eternal stench had visited that area. Cause stench it was. Wowza.

We didn't see any bears, but we saw a bison on the road--and then a whole herd. Seriously, those things are huge! My husband was driving and I kept telling him to slow down. That thing gave us the side-eye. It had horns too! I kept thinking, my car is going to get horned by a bison because my husband won't stop. It didn't attack so I was grateful for that.

We saw plenty of deer. They seemed to be everywhere. Oh, and we saw Antelope too. That was super neat.

Old Faithful. What a sight. They said it'd go off at 7:42 pm plus or minus ten minutes. It went off at 7:32. What a thing to behold. That it can be counted on like that.

Kind of like Christ. We don't know when He'll come to the rescue sometimes, but we know He's there. I think knowing He's there gives peace.
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I can't begin to describe how incredible the scenery was. Hills and mountains and waterfalls. Skys painted with oranges and golds and reds. I just can't see how those things could come to be if not by the hand of a Creator deliberately shaping those things.

How's everyone doing? It's September. Pumpkin Spice has roared onto the scene. I have to admit, the number of products sporting that flavor has increased dramatically from year to year. I'm half expecting toilet paper any minute.

I'm not picking on anyone. I love my share of Pumpkin Spice too, but it does seem to be everywhere and in everything. It has lost some of its appeal now that anything and everything smells like it.

I do love the cinnamon pine cones now greeting me as I enter the local grocery store. Those things smell divine. 

There are several things to talk about this week. One, I'm still working on Bandit's story. A little slower this week as I prepare my family for a vacation involving a thirteen+ hour roadtrip. I think total roundtrip, we're looking at over thirty hours. That's a lot of hours! 
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The next thing is I've changed the Fake Marriage series...again. I know, I know. I have cover issues. I've just never been completely happy with them.  I'll be showing off the covers down below. Hopefully, they're easier to read and prettier than the last ones.

I've been working on Bandit's story this week. I've officially hit the 10k mark. All those words feel good too. Hopefully, I have more when his story is done. I'd really like to do Britney Wolf's story. I know many have been asking for hers, and she needs one.

What do you all want to see for her? I see her loving Sage Valley, and finding her place there. All her brothers are married, and it's her turn. I can see her loving a simple life with a simple guy. What about you? Let me know what you think.

Like I did with Bandit, I'm giving you all a sneak peek of Skye Alvarez, a raven haired, sacasticly sweet lady. She'll be Bandit's balance. Just remember, it's not edited. Things can and do change during editing. I've gotten better, but my editor is still polishing this writer's stone.
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I'll keep it short this week. I've got a word count goal I'm trying to meet. :)
Just click here if you'd like to read about Skye.

So, it's been a unique week for me. As many of you know, I haven't been writing much. A little here and there. Certainly, not like I was a year ago. My candle was burned to the bottom of the wick and I didn't know how to fix it.

But, something happened this week. I don't really know what, but I'm going to call it an answer to prayer because I have been praying. 

A lot. Or what felt like a lot. 

I go through periods where sometimes I wonder if God is really listening. LIke, maybe He needs a hearing aid or something. I mean, I'm talking. I'm trying to hear Him, but the conversation feels completely one sided. 

I know that's not true. I do. Feelings aren't facts and all that jazz. Still, sometimes the heart and the head are in a battle of wills and they're so loud, everything else is drowned out. 

But back to this week. I've written about nine thousand words this week. Two of those on a book I know many of you have been asking about and waiting for. 

Bandit.

That man has been begging for a story since last year. I've struggled figuring out his happily ever after because...I don't want to disappoint anyone. When you've waited for something, you want it to be good. 

So do I. 

I don't know that I can express my appreciation for you fine folks for reading my books, sending me emails filled with encouragement, and everything in between. You've given my family a new life. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to properly say thanks. You, my readers, have blessed me beyond measure and you continue do to so. 

I want Bandit's story to be every bit the great book that you want it to be and I'm going to do my best to deliver that. 

With that in mind though, I thought I'd give you all a first chapter sneak peek. I normally don't do that until my editor has gone through it, but I'm happy with this chapter. I think you will be too. 

Once I finish this current YA I'm working on, Bandit is next. I didn't want to pile a ton of text into this email. I know that can be a real pain. So, I've attached a link where you can go on my website and read it. I hope you enjoy it. 

The Jilted Bride's Billionaire Husband

Well, this week flew by. I almost feel side swiped. Did it feel that way to you? It's like Ms. Doubtfire...it was a fly by fruiting. Only it was days instead of actual fruit.

The hubby and I did decide it's time for a vacation. It's been more than a year, and we're definitely feeling it. We've decided to see Mt. Rushmore, the Custer Battlefield, and then Yellowstone. I've never been to any of them and neither have my girls. So, a bucket list item is getting crossed off. 
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I'm pretty excited. I think it'll be fun just getting away and regrouping. Plus, it's educational. It's one thing to read about something, it's another to actually see it. 

It's been a strange week. For months now, I've had my days planned and suddenly, I don't. Which lends me to thinking. Thinking always gets me into trouble.

Things such as...

I should lose weight. Only, I don't sleep the night before and the last thing I want to do is use Truvia in my coffee so out comes the maple syrup. It's only a touch (no really!) but I shouldn't have it.

And...

Those book covers I just made for the Fake Marriage series. Do I really like them? Like how much do I like them? Will my people be upset if I change them again? Do they notice things like that? No? It's just author over-obsesson? Okay.

This too...

Should I cut my hair? My hairdresser is back in town for a week, and I love her so I should have her do my hair. But I kinda like it this length. Can I last the next six weeks? My hair grows pretty fast.

Plus this... 

Oh! And the cats. I'm telling you the little gremlins have it out for me. I'm trying to get to sleep and the fat one decides to stand on my liver when I'm just at that almost asleep stage. And another wants to sing the song of his people...at 2am. Next thing I know, it's a chorus.

The list goes on which is why I don't immediatly zonk out when my head hits the pillow...unlike my husband who can literally be in the middle of a conversation and start snoring. Like doesn't this man have the universe to ponder?

Whew. Apparently, I have way too much time on my hands. I will say, that the young adult book that I'm working on is coming along. I've given myself a deadline of getting it to my editor by the middle of this month. Which means my little fingers are busy. So there's that. I'm still a little burnt out. Still a little tired. But it gets better each day.
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Okay, I kinda wrote a short story...sorry about that.

This past week was one doozy of a week.

The house was finished up and put on the market. It sold in about six hours. I knew it would sell pretty quickly, but not that fast! I’m thankful though. It’s going to be a great home for the family who bought it. That was Wednesday.

On the same day, I found out that Sweet Kisses came in at #37 on the USA Today Bestseller list. That still hasn’t quite hit. I was in a set with twenty well known, talented authors. If you’ve been waiting for the set to hit Kindle Unlimited, it’s there now.

It’s been a wild week emotionally. Now that I’m no longer spending every waking moment readying the house, I can get those books out that were won. I will be sending them out this coming week. I’m sorry I’ve been slow.

I’ve been slow about getting new stories out too. I hope to fix that as well.
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Okay, it’s the weekend and I’m ready for a celebratory glass of Hawaiian Punch.

Did you hear my hallelujah shouts today? The painting is done. I’m so happy I could cry. If I’m financially able, I will never paint again. It is the job that seems to take forever. But it’s done and there are just a few minor things to finish and the old house will be on the market. Whoooohooo!

There’s a bit of sadness there too. That little house was where we regrouped and caught our breath after being in a town we just didn’t like or feel welcomed in. It’s the little house that sheltered us when we’d felt so beaten and broken. It’s the little house where I published my first novel; where my husband took a leap and started his own business. It held us while we mourned Joey, our sweet boy kitty, and the house where we grew to love Roary, the kitty we rescued from the pound. 

I hope the next people are as blessed as we were in that house. I hope they find it to be the shelter and home they need. It’s a great little house. I’ll miss it but I’m also thankful for the new one too. I’m growing to love this house more and more. 
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Okay, I’ll stop. It’s been a long week of hard work and it’s time to drink a glass of tea and rest a second. I know I still have books to get out and I will as soon as the house is done, which should be this weekend. 

Oh my goodness. Painting. I have paint in my hair, up my nose, and everywhere else. Why? Because I'm painting my old house to put it on the market. It makes me wish I'd put saran wrap over the entire house to keep dirt off the walls. Or that plastic that used to be on couches. Something. Anything that would have kept me from painting. 
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Also, my arms and legs feel like they might fall off. I'm feeling every bit of 46 this week, and I still have more painting to do. Not a lot, but even a little right now is more than I want to do. I hope I never have to do it again. I probably will, but just the thought makes me want to cry.