Last year I wrote a standalone novel. That’s not a surprise as I have written many, but up until then, I had concentrated on billionaire romance, and I was very happy with the plots that had plopped into my head. But plot bunnies can be wily little creatures, and Jesse and Jordan started wiggling into my thoughts. Jesse’s not a billionaire, and I never wanted him to be one, though he does well for himself as a wildlife photographer. I wanted to write a story where he comes back to his small hometown and reconnects with his ex-girlfriend. He and Jordan broke up on high school graduation night and he never forgot her. Jordan stayed in their little town of Bitter Creek, Minnesota (I loosely based their fictional town off of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, about thirty-five minutes from where I live in Moorhead), and she didn’t think Jesse would ever come back. Of course, she has a huge secret about their relationship that will make Jesse explode when he finds out, but that’s the fun of writing a second chance romance.

Bitter Love is different for me under this pen name, but under Vania Rheault, I wrote a small-town series, A Rocky Point Wedding, and the third book in that series is second chance. I really like writing second chance and letting the characters reminisce about how happy they once were and what messed them up.

But, going back to small-town sent me on a detour I didn’t expect and I had to revamp what my author brand had turned into over the years. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, it inspired a new logo and tagline, and it’s a start to other romance subgenres I want to write like hockey and mafia down the road.

Bitter Love has a publishing date of January 26th, 2027, but I’ll be giving it away for a couple of days first–so subscribe to this blog or bookmark my website for future announcements! Those copies won’t be ARCs, though honest reviews are always welcome and appreciated. I wanted to do something different with this book, and for the first time since I started my pen name, it may have a couple on it! I say may because change is hard and I might change my mind and go back to a handsome single man at the last minute. So don’t quote me on anything!

I hope you tag along on the ride to Bitter Creek, Minnesota! Jesse and Jordan and their friends and family would love to see you there!

Stay tuned!

Vania