2024 is starting off with a bang! Are you ready?
I’m so thrilled to bring you The Road Home. It’s a book of my heart and the first in more releases to come.
The setting is about an hour from me in the beautiful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Just down the river from Niagara Falls. Have you been to Niagara Falls?
The Road Home was originally released over ten years ago as Hot Fusion. I’ve updated it, and it now has a lovely new cover.
Bringing Niagara-on-the-Lake to life was fun. It’s a pretty town, I’ve visited many times, as well as Niagara Falls. There is a live theatre – Shaw Theatre and I’ve seen plays there with my mom. It was wonderful to set a story here, in a town with so many memories.
I hope you enjoy The Road Home and can picture yourself in the bakery with all those wonderful bakery treats and strolling along the main street. Please leave reviews and help other readers find books you enjoy while supporting authors.
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Here is a snippet from the book that I hope teases you into wanting more.
“I heard you were back in town.” A deep familiar voice tickled her senses, sending a delicious shiver along the backs of her arms.
Max! Kara stood frozen, totally confused by his presence. Had she conjured him up, thinking about him on the drive here? Her breath stopped and no words formed. A crazy thought of how horrible she must look and she reached up to smooth a wayward strand of hair.
He stepped into the beams of dancing light. His smile, wide and welcoming, and his eyes—the color of warm chocolate syrup—weakened Kara’s knees.
“Oh, Max.” Kara ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. He lifted her easily off the ground. A low chuckle rumbled from his broad chest and she wound her arms around his neck hugging him as if to never let him go. Here was the strong shoulder she needed.
Gone was the gangly teenage boy and in his place was a strong, mature and very solidly muscled man. He swung her around until she giggled. Her despair from only a moment ago vanished and a glimmer of happiness sprouted.
“Hey, gorgeous. It’s good to see you.” He set her down and held her away from him, keeping his hands on her shoulders. She shivered when his gaze swept from her toes to her face. Geez, she still responded to him like a virgin teen and her nipples had stiffened under her sleeveless blouse. She pushed a curl off her face, not because it was bothersome, but because suddenly she was shy and nervous.
He smiled. There was no need to be nervous around Max and she liked the genuine delight she saw in his eyes before his face clouded. “I was so sorry to hear about Gram.”
“Thanks.” The underlying sadness that had haunted her for the past year and a half surfaced with those few words, but she didn’t want to repeat her feelings of moments before. It was so good to see him. She was tongue-tied all of a sudden. He must have sensed it and let her go.
“How did you know I was here?”
“It’s a small town, Kara. Everyone knows everything.”
She nodded. True enough. She’d kept in contact with the lawyers and made arrangements through them to have the building checked on regularly. People talked.
“This old place sure brings back memories.” He strode through the kitchen out to the shop proper and Kara followed him. Seeing him here now, so unexpectedly, made her realize how much she’d missed him. He had matured nicely and filled the room with his presence, as if he belonged here. His trim hips and broad shoulders were so much more muscular now, and his butt, the same wonderful ass, fantastic in any pair of jeans, caught her attention. She allowed herself a moment to appreciate the tempting outline behind the denim. Whoa, settle down.
Lord, the sight of him still cast a spell over her. He moved around the store with the same easy gait, only now he was even more spellbinding. If she wasn’t careful, she’d start fantasizing them together…
“I think I can still smell the butter and pastries.” He placed his hand on the still shrouded bakery display case.
Kara blinked away her growing daydream. She sniffed, holding her breath and yes, it was there–the scent of baking. Wow, she was stunned. Was it real or were they imagining it?
“Um, m-maybe.” To still smell the baking of bygone days seemed surreal. All the years of her youth flashed by, and her chest tightened. Gram. She really is gone. and being here in the closed up bakery drove it home like a spike through her heart. Lost years that could never be replaced.
Hushed silence surrounded them. Kara glanced at Max and saw that he was looking off, as if lost in his own memories. Everyone had called Gram Gram. She’d been the unofficial granny to most of her friends. When they were kids and Gram always had a plate of something special waiting for them after school. Memories of the gang sitting on the patio flooded her. She’d lost track of everyone when she’d moved to France and hadn’t had time to reconnect since coming home.
Then he murmured, snapping her out of her thoughts. “The walls must have soaked up all those years of Gram’s baking.” He reached for one of the shutters and unhooked it.
“Please, Max, no. Not yet.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Why, what’s up?” His easygoing nature was still there under the layers of manhood, but he had a different air about him. Confident. No-nonsense and strong. A rousing combination to be sure.
“I’m not ready for the world to come in yet,” she whispered and glanced at the shuttered windows.
He looked puzzled. “You’re here now, and it’s not a secret.” His voice was gentle, which edged her close to tears again.
Kara sighed. Standing in the center of the shop, she slowly turned as she had in the kitchen. The long glass counter, which ran the length of the store in front of the old stone wall, was still asleep under the drop sheets. The antique maple display shelves on the opposite wall were also draped with a sheet. A cluster of humps looked like a colony of mushrooms hunched by the front windows, but they were just the cast iron outdoor furniture she’d dragged in off the patio the last time she was here. Gram’s cozy wing chairs were tucked into the corner.
“I know, but it’s important to bring everything back as if she’s still here.” Kara stepped to the counter and pulled the sheets off.
The beautiful beveled glass and ornate carved wood counter was revealed. She sucked in a soft gasp, remembering the mouthwatering show of pastries, cakes, tarts and pies, buns and breads that used to sit in this old display case, waiting for people to take them home. She could almost taste them.
“I’ll bring it all back, Max, and it will be even better.” Now, a little more determined, Kara faced him.
He nodded, watching her from across the room. Their eyes met. Her heart beat double time when he grinned, revealing that devilish dimple in his cheek. “I know you will.”
She let out a sigh and curled her arms around her body.
“I want to keep the antique feel but modernized. Turn it into a gathering place. Good food, coffee, teas and if I can get a liquor license, wine too. Bakery by day and wine bar by night. With internet access. Hopefully that will bring the crowds back.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that. All those extras would only be for the tourists.” His eyes held a deeper meaning that set her belly quivering. “We’ve been waiting for you to come home.” His voice was low and intimate.
So… what do you think? Have I intrigued you? I hope so!
