Nothing like a little (or a LOT) of free time to get things long put off finally done . . . or at least in progress. Having a backlist of 80 titles with 3/4s of them out-of-print nudges one into thinking Why the heck aren’t I getting these books back out there to new readers now that I have the rights back? Well . . . why aren’t I? I’ve got a wonderful virtual assistant chomping at the bit to turn old paperbacks into scanned copy and I’ve got an idea file for new covers. But what I’ve discovered is having all the time in the world is an excuse to . . . waste it.
Maybe what I need to do is turn my “spare time” into time to get back to work—for myself, this time. And a great place to start is with the two western historical series I did for Zebra Books as Dana Ransom, one set in the Dakotas and one in Texas. How hard could it be to reacquaint myself with the Prescotts and the Basses? After all, they were practically family for years!
Here's a tease from one of my favorites. DAKOTA PROMISES was the final book of four in that series . . . at least for now.
HE WAS HER PAST
The minute Norah Denby first laid eyes on handsome Rory Prescott, she knew her heart would belong to him forever. But the rugged South Dakota cowboy clearly didn't feel the same way about her, and when she realized that as his wife she'd always play second fiddle to his sprawling family spread, Norah took their son and fled east to Baltimore... vowing to make a new life far from the tantalizing memories of her husband's seductive embrace. But fate would soon sweep her back to the Bar K Ranch, reuniting her with the only man she would ever love-and rekindling the flames of an unforgettable passion!
SHE WAS HIS FUTURE
Three years apart spent rebuilding the troubled Prescott ranch still hadn't dimmed Rory's wild, consuming desire for Norah. The fiery beauty was everything he'd ever wanted in a woman and a wife... and now that she was back, he didn't intend to lose her a second time. With slow, burning kisses, he'd melt her resistance. And as their passions soared to rapturous new heights beneath searing Dakota skies, she'd discover once and for all that they shared a love meant to be their destiny!
The sight of Jacob sitting on the front steps fleetingly lifted his doldrums ... until he saw the boy was wearing his Eastern sissy suit and felt the cool bore of his son’s stare. “Morning, pard,” he called with a brave attempt at a smile.
“Good morning, sir.”
Sir, again? Rory frowned slightly. “Thought we might ride on over to the Lone Star to see if we could find you that special horse.”
“My mother and I are taking Mr. Samuels over to the Indian Reservation this morning.”
“Oh.” He tried not to sound too disheartened as he sank awkwardly down on the steps beside his rigid son. Absently, he rubbed at his knee. “We can do it later. I didn’t know your mama had plans.”
“I don’t think I’ll be needing a horse, anyway.”
“Why’s that?” he asked, pretending not to know ... pretending his heart hadn’t dropped right into his boots.
( . . . and a bit more . . .)
But Jacob wouldn’t answer. He was trying hard not to cry. He didn’t want to talk about the horse he would never have or think about the father that would never be his. Better to pretend neither mattered. After all, the big rough-talking cowboy at his side wasn’t going to stop his mother from taking him away again. Wouldn’t he stop her if he cared?
DAKOTA PROMISES was the final Dana Ransom installment of my four-book Dakota series for Zebra Books. Back in the early ‘90s, the Prescotts were like family to me (until I met the Basses . . . but that’s another story – or five).
Hope to have these award-winning stories available soon!!
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