RUNAWAY HEART is actually not my first completed manuscript (insert the surprised gasps here – the vast majority of authors will tell you that they did not publish their manuscripts in the order that they wrote them, if their first one got published at all).

My first manuscript, NO ONE ELSE, is a gritty romantic suspense that focuses on a pair of star crossed lovers from a couple of mafia families struggling for control over the city of Port Sentry. While I really loved the world and the romance of Tristiano (Tristyn & Luciano), I knew I couldn’t sustain a series of stories in their world. I had developed many characters that I loved through that first novel, and someday, I want to see them each through to their respective happily-ever-afters – right now is not the right time for that.

Growing up around horses and around salt-of-the-earth small town people who take care of one another, I always knew I wanted to write cowboys. I love to read cowboys, and I particularly love the opportunities to include horses in cowboy romance. Two (nonconsecutive) years for NaNoWriMo, I started writing cowboys but stopped once the month was over, without finishing the manuscript.

This winter, I started trying to bring NO ONE ELSE up to snuff for publication. It was arduous and I wasn’t all that interested or invested, as much as I loved the story. I was stressed about the next book, who I would write it about, and how it would work out. I had no desire to continue writing in the series at this time.

I was literally shoveling up poop after my horse when I started thinking about my cowboys again. I know horses. I grew up loving cowboys. It only makes sense. Those firm but gentle, sweet alphas-who-you-would-never-know-were-alphas. That’s what turns my crank. I could write about them forever!

And so, with two partially finished manuscripts, I concocted Three Rivers, and I started with the Baylor brothers. Dane, Finn and Noah. A trio of hard-working, sexy ranch-grown men who value fidelity and passion.

Then came the others – Banks, Carter, Cutter. Characters I introduced in RUNAWAY HEART that just wouldn’t get out of my mind no matter how much I begged, pleaded and bullied.

I hope you enjoy reading about Three Rivers as much as I enjoyed writing about it!