What I'm Working On by Jana Richards

It’s been a long year (actually closer to fifteen months, but who’s counting?). At least I’ve gotten a fair bit of writing done while I’ve been mostly at home. I’ve been working on books 3 and 4 of my Masonville Small Town romance series. Though book 3, UNEXPECTED, has been contracted since before Christmas, I just recently got the edits for the book. I’m excited that UNEXPECTED is moving closer to publication, albeit ever so slowly. On the upside, waiting for edits meant I had time to write STRONG ENOUGH, book 4 in the series. I am at the critiquing and polishing stage with this book at the moment.

UNEXPECTED is Ben and Jamie's story. Ben recently moved to the small town of Masonville, North Dakota from Chicago with his two little girls to be closer to his brother and sister. We were introduced to Ben's sister Blair in book 2, TO HEAL A HEART, when she falls in love with Garrett Saunders. Ben and Damon, the second Greyson brother, make a guest appearance in TO HEAL A HEART. 

Book Two, To Heal a Heart

Jamie Garven is a veterinarian who works at the Masonville Veterinary Clinic with Cole and Lauren Walsh from book 1, CHILD OF MINE. The great thing about writing a series is that we can check in on previous couples and see how they're doing. I love seeing how happily ever after is working out for them! 

Book One, Child of Mine

Want to see my new blurb for UNEXPECTED? Here you go:

Single dad Ben Greyson wants only to retain custody of his two stepdaughters. A dysfunctional childhood has made family the most important thing in his life. When his late wife's parents sue for custody, a desperate Ben is left with two choices – run away with his girls or marry his next-door neighbor.

Jamie Garven wants to be a mother. She's intrigued by her handsome new neighbor and falls in love with his little girls. Then Ben is faced with losing his children, and Jamie agrees to marry him for a chance at motherhood. They're determined to show the world, and the girls' grandparents, two loving parents.

Their marriage of convenience turns into unexpected love. But Ben interprets Jamie's efforts to save their family as betrayal—they could lose everything, including each other.

Here’s a small taste of the book. I hope you enjoy it!

Jamie didn’t sleep the rest of the night. The logical part of her brain told her if Ben lost custody it wasn’t her fault. Circumstances beyond her control, and Ben’s, had conspired against them. But guilt and worry wouldn’t let her rest. 

The crazy thing was she could see the four of them together as a family. And she could see herself with Ben. She’d been fighting her feelings for him since the day they met. Learning he was a recovering alcoholic was a shock, but she knew he was much more than that. He was kind and funny, and a loving father.

But he didn’t love her.

She remembered what it was like to watch, day by day, as Carson fell a little more out of love with her. Every day another piece of her soul withered. To the outside world they probably still looked like a happy couple. But she could feel Carson pull away bit by bit, like water trickling out of a broken vase. It was in the awkward silences between them, the unexplained absences, the times he didn’t reach for her in the night. 

Eventually the slow trickle turned into a torrent and he was gone. It had nearly destroyed her.

Could she live with a man who didn’t love her for a second time? Could she willingly step into a relationship, knowing it may end the same way her relationship to Carson ended?

Thoughts and emotions whirled in her brain, making her dizzy. 

At four a.m. she gave up all pretense of sleep. She went to the kitchen for a drink of water and as she ran the tap, she saw the lights were on in Ben’s house. He probably couldn’t sleep either. 

What must he be going through? She couldn’t imagine losing a child. 

The old longing ache she’d worked so hard to dispel pressed on her heart. This is your chance, her heart whispered. Maybe your only chance to have children. 

Jamie groaned out load. She couldn’t say no. Ben and the girls needed her.

Yet how could she say yes and expose herself to almost certain heartbreak? 

Maybe some things were more important. Maybe it was enough to be a mother to the girls and create a family with them. She couldn’t expect Ben to love her as well. It was asking too much.

She couldn’t let him lose the girls. And she couldn’t let her one chance to be a mother slip away.

I'll be back in a few weeks with an update on UNEXPECTED's road to publication. And I'll give you a sneak peek at STRONG ENOUGH. Stay tuned!