Let's step into the present.... for just a few moments

Besides writing historical romance I also dabble with contemporary romances. I am pleased to present to my readers the cover art for my upcoming release It's Always Been You. The story is part of the much loved Class of 1985 series from the Last Rose of Summer Line of The Wild Rose Press. Having attended both my tenth and twentieth high school reunions I know what it is like to anticipate seeing former classmates again and reconnecting. If you've been there, done that and lived to tell about it then I know you will love reading It's Always Been You. At this time I do not have a release date, but that should be coming very soon. I will keep you posted.

It's Always Been You Blurb:

Retired Staff Sergeant Seth Roberts returns to Summerville to begin the next chapter of his life. To do that, he needs to find out why his girlfriend married another man more than twenty years ago while he served in the Persian Gulf. Their high school reunion is the perfect place to confront Elyse Jordan.

Determined to be a strong role model for her daughters, Professor of Feminist Theory Elyse Jordan never talks about the loss of her only love twenty years ago. Caring for her mother during cancer treatment brings Elyse back to Summerville, the one place she avoided after Seth’s death. When an invitation to her twenty-fifth reunion arrives, she decides to go and reconnect with lost friends. She never imagines she’ll come face-to-face with Seth instead.

Can Seth and Elyse find the thread of love that bound them together or will past tragedies and misunderstandings keep them apart?

To tease you until then, here's an excerpt:

“Hello, Elyse.” Seth waited until she finally raised her head at him. She didn’t look well. “Is it okay if we join you?”

She bit her lower lip, took several deep breaths, and slowly nodded. “I-I don’t understand. Wh-what are you doing here? I thought—”

“You thought what?” He kept his voice low as he took the empty chair beside her. Despite her pallor he found it difficult to take his eyes off of her. She looked amazing, better than he could have imagined after all these years.

“I was told ...” She took another deep breath, continued to toy with her napkin. “This doesn’t make sense ...” Her hand trembled when she covered her mouth; her green eyes went glossy with unshed tears.

“What doesn’t make sense?” He could tell she was pained by his presence and was determined to find out why. Her reaction to seeing him wasn’t what he’d anticipated. He’d been prepared for indifference, not distress.

She reached for her glass of water and took a long drink. “You’re supposed to be dead.”

“Can you say that again? The noise in here—”

Raising her voice several octaves, she enunciated each word for clarity. “Dead. You’re supposed to be dead.” People at nearby tables turned around to look at them.

“I can assure you I’m not.”