If you subscribe to my newsletter (you do, don’t you?) you will have received an update this morning with this announcement. Same if you follow my Author Page on Facebook (are you over there?) Or on Twitter (for those who are still hanging on hoping Elon doesn’t destroy it completely, or maybe you’re fascinated watching the meltdown?) Or maybe you saw my post on Mastodon (that’s a new one even for me, but look me up if you’re there. I’m at @LeahBraemel@romancelandia.club )
Anyway, if you’re on any of those places, you will already know I have a brand new novella releasing on January 30th, 2023. It’s a novella I wrote this summer after receiving an invitation from author Karla Doyle to be part of the Everything’s Bigger In Texas collaboration.
Texas Hook-Up takes place in the Barnett Springs realm, the same Texan small-town world that I created for Texas Tangle, Tangled Past, and Feeding the Flames. Also something new for me–I wrote it in first person, present tense. Which was totally frowned upon when I stepped away back in 2017, but times have changed as have readers’ tastes, so I changed my style too. I had a blast writing it, even if I did keep my editor on my toes to make sure I kept my tenses straight. (It’s not easy!) Will I write more stories in first person? Absolutely. Will I write more in present tense? I’m not so sure. I won’t rule it out. It definitely is a challenge but it offers some unique opportunities for plot twists. I will love to hear your feedback about your preferences when you read it too.
Like enemies to lovers? ✅ Small town contemporary romance? ✅ Cinnamon roll hero? ✅ Feisty potty-mouthed heroine? ✅
MIA
I am a woman in a male trucker’s world, which means I’ve developed a thick skin and a potty mouth over the years. When an EMT that I sorta kinda like decides he doesn’t like me, no skin off my nose. I can take Quinn’s snark and dish it right back at him. Until he finally realizes he’s in the wrong about me, and he goes and does something decent, like apologizing. Now what do I do with him?
QUINN
I come from a screwed-up family that I admit affects how I judge people. When I overheard Mia talking about living with someone named Jeff while she was dating my buddy Brody, I jumped to the wrong conclusion and I’ve been giving her grief ever since. I’ve finally realized I screwed up. Big time. I’m trying to prove how sorry I am but she’s making me jump through hoops. Rightfully so.
Being around Mia, away from her truck, has let me see the soft squishy parts behind the thick armor she’s donned. But going from despising someone to trusting them is a long swing. Now I have to convince her—and myself—I’m worth the effort.
Now here’s where there’s some good news/bad news depending on where you buy your books. For the first three months, Texas Hook-Up will be part of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program, which means if you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber you can download it and read it at your leisure on January 30th. (Yay) For those who aren’t KU members, you can still pre-order it from Amazon. (Yay!) Because of the KU terms, I cannot set it for sale through Apple or Kobo or any other vendor until April 30th. 😔 I could release Texas Hook-Up as a paperback, except I want to make this book a part of the Barnett Springs romance series, which means putting a graphic on the cover to tie them all together but I can’t do until April 30th when it comes out of KU. There’s no use releasing a paperback version at the end of January and then have to re-release it with an adjusted cover three months later. But it will be coming out at all your favourite vendors both in digital and paperback in May 2023. So those of you who buy from Kobo, Apple or Nook, hang tight, you will be able to buy Texas Hook-Up and read it on your favourite device soon. (Yay, and thank you for your patience.)