Lenore Wheeler knows what a hard life, heartbreak, and failure tastes like. Heading home to the backwoods Appalachian town she swore she’d never return to with her young daughter in tow, she can’t imagine her future getting much bleaker.

Then she comes face-to-face with the one man she never expected to see again.

Jesse Yates was supposed to escape the mountains, make something of himself, and attain every dream Lenore destroyed. He’s determined to wear down her resolve and win her back, but she’s got a secret to keep and reasons to keep her old flame at arm’s length.

Lenore already broke her own heart to save Jesse, but she’ll do anything to protect her daughter from the same fate.

Except fate has a funny way of working out, especially when all roads lead to home.

Book Type:

Contemporary Romance

Excerpt: Homebound

The junior high English teacher I expect to be an ally takes the seat on my other side, not disguising her visual inspection of me as she clucks her tongue with a shake of her head. “I suppose you’ll do. You’ll find our school runs much like the rest of town. Mind the peckin’ order, mind your manners, do your job, and you’ll get along just fine.” She sticks her tongue in her cheek. “Course, the board done hired some new, young fella from Marshall as principal, so we might all be in for a shake up this year.”

Multiple sets of eyes train on me expectantly.

I hold up my hands. “I was interviewed by the superintendent who passed on my credentials to the board. The principal’s position was still open when I was hired on. I don’t know anything more than you do.”

The heavy footfall of dress shoes clacks across the wooden planks as a man walks to the center of the stage. His shoulders are squared; his jaw is tense, but his hands hang loosely at his sides. He doesn’t say a word as takes his time making eye contact with every person in the room. Every person except me.

We both stick out like sore thumbs among our coworkers. He’s wearing a three-piece suit that looks custom tailored. Not even his predecessor was ever dressed so fine. He’s tall and broad—and in spite of being much younger than most of the teachers—he’s all man. Thick, black hair cut short on the sides but styled on top, clean-shaven, sharp green eyes assessing his employees spread out below him. His bright red tie falls across an undeniably defined chest that seems to strain the fabric of his crisp, white dress shirt.

He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I was never supposed to see him again.

An unfamiliar touch shuts my trap for me, muttering, “Close your mouth, girl. And what’s to gawk at? Don’t ya know all that glitters ain’t gold? Lawdamercy, our school’s done for.”

I absolutely share her visceral reaction. Only it’s not the school I’m so worried about.

He speaks in an even, almost daring tone. “As I’m sure y’all remember, I’m Jesse Yates. I’ll be serving as your new principal.”