Hey, hey, everyone!

My new Mother's Day novella is now available!

Book 6 in the Holidays Ever After Series.

Dusty's love for ghost towns and ghost stories was a sweet lure--until her twin's lies trap her in a life and a love story that she's always wanted, but isn't hers.

Note: If you've read some of my older stories, then you might recognize this book as originally published as Dusty's Ghost Town. It hasn't been on the market for years, though. I reedited it, added two more chapters, and created a beautiful ending you are going to love. Here's a sample:

While Ryker was gone, Dusty considered her options. Should she set him straight that she was Dusty and not Mandy? It would be easy to prove with her driver’s license, credit cards, and other personal items. Or should she lie low and pretend to be Mandy so that she could get the real scoop?

But why had Mandy pulled such an elaborate scheme? They weren’t kids anymore, switching up dates for fun and Dusty bailing her out for a good bribe. She’d even bailed her out beyond high school a few times, with disastrous results—for her.

She sighed, already knowing the answer to that. Mandy figured Dusty would fix whatever mess she was in, and then it would be okay for her to switch back. But what kind of mess was she in?

Her letter led Dusty to believe she was in physical danger and wasn’t allowed to leave. Was it just the spanking threats that had Mandy riled up? Lord knows Dusty had taken enough of her sister’s deserved spankings, although her dad was never hard on either of them. Warning swats with a few sharper ones as a pointed reminder was all there had been to it, but you would think Mandy was being murdered when she’d actually had to pay her own dues. 

Should she allow Ryker to keep thinking she was Mandy so she could see how he treated her sister? Everyone knew what assholes men could be, and if she told him who she was, he might lie about everything Mandy had said. It only took her an instant to decide after that thought. Oh well, what the heck, she had some time to kill; she’d play along and see what happened. Too bad he was so sinfully good-looking, because even that didn’t make up for a lousy character.

Having made up her mind, she relaxed for a few minutes and looked around the little shop. Jewelry counters offered a wide range of options. Stones made from turquoise and other rocks filled the cases. Indian blankets, western-style clothing, boots, moccasins, postcards, and all the usual items were everywhere. She’d love to spend some time browsing if she got the chance. Ghost towns fascinated her, and perhaps there would be some old-time memorabilia regarding the ruins and the residents who had lived in the old ghost town of Sand Hollow long ago in the bookshelves across the room.

She picked up her Coke, and the pleasant scent of oiled leather and candles assailed her nostrils as she sucked in a long drink of the cold beverage.

Lord, but that tasted good. It went down her parched throat and energized her back into a decent human being again. She closed her eyes to relax for a minute.

“I told you not to come out in this heat.”

The voice was coming from above her, startling her, and she realized she hadn’t heard Ryker come back—sneaky devil. She knew they’d already covered this ground and that she was in some sort of trouble, so she wasn’t sure what to say. She kept her eyes closed, slowing her erratic heartbeat.

“Are you alright?” he asked suddenly. His tone was kinder, and she opened one cautious eye to peek up at him. He now looked like a normal man, rather than some avenging demon. That was an improvement.

“Uhm... yeah. Yeah, I know... but…uhm... I just needed to get out for a few minutes. I was getting cabin fever.”

“We will be discussing this later, you know,” he replied firmly.

She studied his posture, his gaze steady as he crossed his arms, the muscles in his white t-shirt bulging. What did that mean…exactly? She arched a delicate brow, and he mimicked her expression. She still wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. Was he looking for an apology? She felt she should dredge one up from somewhere since she was taking on her sister’s persona.

“Okay, so...I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have brought the kids out in this heat,” she grudgingly admitted. It should be Mandy confessing to the deed, not her.

“No, you shouldn’t have, especially after I warned you specifically not to.” His green eyes glittered down at her.

It wasn’t any easier to accept blame for her sister now than it had been when she was a kid, but she sucked it up and went along with it. “Well... um... like I said, I needed a break. Sorry.”

“And that’s your excuse for dragging the kids around?” He shot her a disgusted look and shook his head. “Kind of selfish, don’t you think?”

She felt the red creep up her throat, but she braved it out. “I didn’t think... I guess the heat doesn’t bother me that much, so I didn’t think it through well enough. Like I said…I’m sorry.”

His eyes popped in disbelief. “That’s the biggest understatement I’ve heard yet. And when did the heat stop bothering you? You’re usually prostrate on the sofa at home by this time of day, refusing even to look outside.”

Dusty couldn’t help it; sarcasm came naturally, and she was tired of apologizing. “So, sue me,” she drawled, her blue-gray eyes flashing. Then she realized she couldn’t afford her temper or he’d figure her out a lot faster than she wanted him to. He was right, her sister would never have come out if she hadn’t been sure of her escape route. Damn her, anyway, dragging children around in this. She deserved a beating, as far as Dusty was concerned. Okay, no, she didn’t mean that – no one deserved to be beaten up. A spanking, though…she could use a few of those.

 “Oh, you’ll pay for this, but not with a lawsuit, as I’m sure you are quite aware.....learn more 

Chap 1 here

Check out the Holidays Ever After Series on Amazon and enjoy all the books!

Also, here are my $.99 cents for the first in the series reads to check out if you haven't read them. Check them out at my web page on Amazon!

Have a great Mother's Day, and as always, my friends,